Description of
the right

Healthcare professionals and employees in the healthcare system must protect your privacy.

Your personal information and all records of your presence at your appointments must be kept confidential.

You can ask to chat in a more private location if you feel that your privacy is insufficiently protected.

From age 14, you can give your consent to care without the consent of an adult. Your parents don’t have to be informed of the details of your appointments or your state of health if you don’t agree. Your parents must be notified if you spend more than 12 hours in a healthcare facility (e.g. hospital, birth center).

You also have the right to accept or refuse the sharing of your personal information with a loved one or another healthcare professional.

Several examples of situations

  • Health professionals must ensure meetings remain confidential and obtain your consent before disclosing any information about your health in a room or place shared with other people.
  • During a consultation at the pharmacy, you can request to move to a more private location to answer questions or receive information about the abortion pill.
  • Your consent is required to transmit your health information to another healthcare establishment.

References

Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms: section 5

Act respecting health and social services information: sections 6, 20, 75 and 76

Civil Code of Quebec: sections 3, 14, 16, 17, 35 and 36

Professional obligation according to many other professional orders (list of professional orders)